Towards agentic youth engagement: a youth participatory action research study

Purpose The aim of this study is to explore the social phenomenon of agentic youth engagement and contribute to its theorization and conceptualization by incorporating youth perspectives. Agentic youth engagement is a development and transformative process involving thinking, acting and experimenting in new ways, resulting in influence and new potentialities. This study asks: “how can youth help us understand agentic youth engagement and contribute to its theorizing and conceptualization through youth participatory action research?” Design/methodology/approach The study is an exploratory, phenomenological study and applies youth participatory action research and interpretative phenomenological analysis. The study involves youth aged 15–18 years, engaged in peer research. The findings from this study are informed by 34 qualitative interviews, conducted by 14 youth researchers. Findings This study extends our understanding and conceptualization of the phenomenon of agentic youth engagement (as informed by youth perspectives). This study has two key findings which contribute to our understanding of agentic youth engagement: (1) a convergence of motivations may be necessary to foster engagement and (2) this convergence may assist in helping to shape an internal locus of control and thus lead to sustained youth engagement over time. Environment plays a critical role and can be a venue where such convergences may occur, and thus it acts as both a motivation and an enabler (or barrier). Therefore, agentic youth engagement necessitates a convergence of youth motivations experienced at the individual and organizational level, and such engagement is an ongoing, relational process. The study also concludes that agentic youth engagement is shaped by factors which are very context-specific. Originality/value The novelty of this study stems from the dual role that youth play as both youth researchers and participants. Their emic insights, through a model of youth participatory action research, contribute to new theorizing regarding youth engagement.